Priorities of existing trade and economic cooperation between Georgia and the United Arab Emirates were discussed on Wednesday by Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, the Minister of State to the United Arab Emirates.
The Ministry said the sides highlighted an “enormous impact” on rapprochement of economic relations of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement signed between the two countries in October of previous year, enabling Georgian manufacturers to export with preferential tariffs.
The officials also reviewed further strengthening the collaboration in tourism, energy, transport, logistics and more.
The body noted the Tbilisi dry port project with involving construction of a multimodal inland terminal which will serve rail and road container shipments starting functioning by the end of the year in the Georgian capital.
The project’s involvement of investments from the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi Ports Group was the main focus of the meeting.
The parties pointed out regional geopolitical developments had “increased demand” for the Middle Corridor, a logistics route connecting Central Asia and China to Europe via the South Caucasus through Georgia.
The ministers also added logistics projects such as Tbilisi dry port would “boost additional loads attraction” in the Corridor.
The port, which is located six kilometres from the Tbilisi International Airport in the Georgian capital city, on an area of 283,000 square metres, will feature class A and B warehouse spaces and have an annual capacity of up to 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit.
The body concluded the ministers once again emphasised the importance of further deepening the partnership relations between the two nations.